Win a Wash ‘n Zip Dog Bed

January 24, 2015 by 129 Comments

I am sure by now you have all seen about a zillion photos of our newest addition, Cooper.  Cooper is new, 2 and a half years old, and hails from NYC. He’s had a rough start, coming to us with a previously undiagnosed illness (fun surprise there!) but is settling in.

Cooper likes to snuggle.  He is above laying on the floor- I can tell you I have never seen him sit on a hardwood, laminate, or tile floor- he will condescend to sitting on the carpet, but he won’t lay there.  For a shelter dog, he sure is persnickety!

Cooper thinks he needs to be on the couch if we are- which is tricky, because there’s not a whole lot of room if we are already on the couch. If it’s just one person, sure, or me and the kiddo.  But not if there’s more.  Enter the new Wash ‘n Zip dog bed.

washable dog bed

The bed in it’s smallest size.

The Wash’nZip Pet Bed is made of sheets of batting which are sewn into the outer seams and box stitched.  This assures that the interior filling won’t shift and the dog bed will always hold its’ shape, no matter which size you fold it into (you can make it a few sizes, which is pretty cool).  You can double it over and make it a small mat, open it up and make it full size, or unzip it and it becomes a blanket or a couch or carseat cover.
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Filed Under: animals, giveaway, review Tagged With: ,

Win Tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME

January 23, 2015 by 17 Comments

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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME features artists who redefine the word extreme in everything they do, magnifying traditional elements of the circus and combining them with never-before-seen spectacles, original fast-paced performances and incredibly hilarious moments. The multi-year tour offers extreme thrills, exotic animals and extraordinary performers that add up to the ultimate family entertainment experience.

High-wire wizards, powerful strongmen, BMX trick riders, trampoline daredevils, inconceivable contortionists, a high-flying human cannonball, a bungee aerial skydiving display and an international assembly of more than 300 cast and crew provide 2 ½ hours of thrilling entertainment.

With such an exciting lineup, The Greatest Show On Earth® guarantees to dazzle and astound, and a Ringling Bros.® show wouldn’t be complete without a full menagerie of amazing animals. Circus XTREME features beautiful Bengal tigers, two-humped camels ridden by brave Mongolian women, impressive horses, and the most popular members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey family: the magnificent Asian elephants.

“We pulled from the realm of extreme sports and competitive acrobatics and brought them into the world of the circus, making this the most contemporary show we’ve ever created,” says Producer Alana Feld.  “We’ve also pushed the limits of all of our amazing artists and performers to create new and different exhilarating elements, providing audiences with extreme family fun.”

“With Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME, we wanted to create a show that keeps pace with modern families and caters to the ‘edge-of-the-seat’ thrill that parents and kids are seeking in live entertainment,” says Producer Nicole Feld.  “The experience is enhanced by the interactivity of our All Access Pre-Show, and as a mom, I know that’s my daughter’s favorite part.”
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Win a Snuza Hero Baby Monitor

January 23, 2015 by 78 Comments

Have a new baby, or know someone who is expecting?  Have you heard of Snuza yet?  If not, you will want to, it’s something all new moms will want to have on hand for the new baby.

pic4Snuza – developer of portable, easy-to-use movement baby monitors that simply attach to the baby’s diaper, are lightweight and alert parents/caregivers in 15 seconds if no abdominal movement is detected.  

 
Key Features Include:
  • No wires, cords, cables or sensor pads that could potentially harm baby;
  • Made with hypo-allergenic, medical grade plastics and more importantly does not send or receive radio frequency signals
  • Batteries are replaceable
  • Only weights 1 oz, making it the lightest monitor on the market

    • [Read more…]

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LA Psycle- A wonderful Spin Studio

January 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

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At the start of most years many people are all about exercising, getting fit, losing weight, and even more great New Year’s Resolutions.  Jamie Froetschner opened her spin studio, LA Psycle, back at the beginning of October and has been bombarded with interested people ever since.

About LA Psycle’s Owner:

Let me tell you that Jamie is one of the most energetic people that I have ever met in my life. She could motivate a rock to get up and going, which is absolutely wonderful for her role as the instructor. Jamie leads a very active life and is always encouraging all members of the class to push themselves a little harder. Jamie has created a wonderful atmosphere to help people make very healthy life choices.

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About LA Psycle: 

There are two options for classes:

  • $5 drop-in
  • $50 for a 5 week pass

Class Times:

  • M- 6:15 p.m. (45 minutes)
  • M/W – 5:30 p.m. (30 minutes)
  • W- 6:15 p.m.  (45 minutes)
  • T/TH – 5:20 a.m. (30 minutes)
  • T/TH – 6:00 a.m. (30 minutes)
  • T/TH – 4:30 p.m. (30 minutes)
  • T/TH – 5:15 p.m. (30 minutes)

The 5 week pass consists of 2- 30 minute sessions or 1 – 45 minute session a week.

The price for drop-in and the 5 week pass are the same. The benefit of the 5-week pass is that you will get to “reserve” your bike.

The classes are always first come first serve, and the 5 week pass people always get their spots before openings are posted to others.

In addition to the classes that are offered, Jamie and her side-kick Kristin, offer drop in classes on most Fridays and Saturdays to help get more people into the classes.

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LA Psycle:

Let me tell you that when you enter the LA Psycle studio, you immediately feel ready to have a great time. There is always great music playing, and tons of smiling faces. Larned is a small community so everyone has gotten to know each other very well and everyone is part of a big family. Every single workout leaves you proud of yourself for working hard, and ready to come back and do it again for your next class. I know that I can’t say that about every other type of workout I’ve ever done!

About Spin Class:

Spinning is a specific format of indoor cycling. Only certified Spinning instructors are allowed to teach “Spinning.” Spinning is a cardio workout set to music and led by a certified instructor. Most classes last between 30 and 60 minutes, although some places offer beginner or intro classes that might be shorter. Jamie and Kristin both are Schwinn certified teachers.
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Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner

January 21, 2015 by 1 Comment

Disclosure- I received a Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner sample to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Messes happen everyday to everyone. Even in the cleanest of homes they come about from either pets or kids or adults with clumsy hands. Even the odd leaky pipe can be the culprit.  Whatever the cause Rub Doctor is to the rescue with their newest Portable Spot Cleaner. The spot cleaner is powerful and compact with all the bells and whistles you’d need to get out the most stubborn carpet stains. Check out this comprehensive guide for sport carpet cleaner from Floorscleaner.com

Little Man is a joy when he is eating but he of course makes messes.  Usually small ones but it always seems to be a staining food on the carpet or a staining juice on the carpet that actually spills. The spills only occur in one area, so this little Spot Cleaner is perfect. Instead of Steaming or Shampooing your whole carpet you can set it to work on your most stubborn stains just use the included hand held cleaning tool. The Spot Cleaner consists of a double suction hand held motorized activation cleaning brush. Being hand held is great but the unit also sports a telescoping handle for easy movement from spot to spot. This unit is perfect for spots big or small. [Read more…]

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Getting Your Game On

January 19, 2015 by 3 Comments

Looking to add on to your world of gaming?  Check out these fun playthings that will keep your little one (OK, you too) entertained through the long winter months.

pic4Got a little gamer?  The cute 7.5 inch plush from Nintendo are soft and great for bedtime cuddles (or anytime).  You can find them in characters like Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Link, Red Pinkmin, and Yellow Pinkmin for about $8 in stores like Target and Toys R Us.

Again, good for the younger gamers among us (and some of the bigger players who are young at heart) is JAKKS Pacific’s Hero Portal.  The latest additions of the Plug It In and Play TV Games come in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers (each console comes with 2 heroes). These are simple to use-  since the games are built into the controller, there is no additional gaming console needed. The Hero Portal just plugs into the A/V jacks of any standard TV and contains all games with no additional consoles, wires, or software needed.  Just pick your Hero, place him or her on the portal, and begin battling your way through 6 stages and 18 missions in each game.  You can also unlock secret missions and characters with booster packs. Available for $40 at stores like Amazon.  Additional characters and consoles sold separately.

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Angry Birds Telepods are a lot of fun for any fan of the game- and by now, we are guessing that’s nearly everyone.  The latest sets come in Transformers or Stella (the pink lady bird) variety.  There are so many options of sets and characters available, that we will focus on the Telepods as wholes rather then any one set.  With many price points and sized sets (some even have play houses) available, there is one that is right for every budget and every fan.
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Disney on Ice Presents Princesses & Heroes

January 17, 2015 by 6 Comments

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Last night, we had the opportunity to see the latest Disney On Ice show, Disney on Ice Presents Princesses & Heroes.  While it was fairly heavy on the princesses and light on the heros, the kids seemed to like it (the girls more so then the boys).  There was a pretty cool scene from Sleeping Beauty where Prince Phillip fights the evil Maleficent in her dragon form that many of the kids liked, and was my son’s favorite part of the show- the dragon was large, fluorescent, and breathed smoke and fire as it chased the prince around the ice. Once slayed by the virtuous prince, the slumbering princess could be rescued.  (Note- warn the little kids ahead of time, some of the smaller ones were scared of the dragon and the noise.)

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My son was hoping for Mulan (battle scenes!) or Peter Pan, but the dragon was fun.  Little miss “Aurora”  however loved every minute of the princess-fest, as did the other princesses in the audience (many of whom also came dressed as thier favorite princess.)  Of course, the audience EXPLODED when the sisters of “Frozen” skated onto the ice- or, more aptly, as soon as they heard the music being played, before you could even see the scenery that was up, lol.  Most of the second half of the show was dedicated to “Frozen”, which was just fine with most of the people there, from what I could see.  The other princess and heroes that were in attendance included Aladdin and Jasmine, Cinderella and Charming, Rapunzel and Flynn, Belle (sans Beast, though they did a great “Be Our Guest” number with Lumiere and kitchenware) Snow White and Charming, and Ariel and Prince Eric.  The Little Mermaid portion is also a fun portion for both boys and girls, since Sebastien the Crab and Flounder play prominently- and the music is a lot of fun, with much of the cast of skaters participating in the show at that time. There is a lot to see and it’s very visually stimulating- the “Under the Sea” portion is enjoyable for a lot of reasons; it’s lively, the music is very upbeat, spirited, and has a very different sound then many other songs, and there are so many cast members skating in vibrant costumes and colors.  It also opens with the cast of sailors doing tricks and flips, which is fun and something unique from the rest of the show- there is even a sailor that flips into a chair held above the rest of the “crew”- very neat!
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Get Your Glam on With Cookie Lee

January 15, 2015 by 6 Comments

It’s fun to accessorize your outfits with a little bit of bling, or to take them from day to night with a few little touches.  No one wants to change their entire outfit if they are running from the office to dinner, or from something casual to a bit more formal if all you really need to do is add a jacket and some fun jewelry.

I don’t get dressed up very often, but when I do, it’s nice to have something fun to add to the outfit, something that makes it extra special, that makes me feel pretty.  Lets face it, as women, we do need to feel pretty now and again, yes?

P1020611Cookie Lee is a great company that has tons of options- something for everyone, no matter how picky.  The best part is that everything on the site is less then $50, so you won’t break the bank when you are shopping.  Perfect for birthdays and upcoming Valentine’s Day as well as all those date nights and parties throughout the year, you will want to spend some time browsing before you choose the pieces that you love best.  (Browsing is ALMOST as fun as the actual shopping and buying part, true?)
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